As part of its Quality Mailshot initiative, the QAC鈥檚 communication of 18 March 2020 highlighted the swift transition to online tuition imposed by the unexpected circumstances brought about by the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Feedback received in response to the mailshot brought to the fore other instances of good practice in this regard. The support of the IT 福利在线免费 has been widely regarded as indispensable by lecturers coordinating on-line programmes.
As far back as 2006, a study-unit was run entirely online through the University Moodle by Prof. Paul A. Bartolo, who subsequently summed up his experience in a book chapter entitled ''.
An actual programme dedicated to online tuition, entitled 'Foundations of Online Teaching and Learning' (LAS1047), has been offered by the Centre for Liberal Arts & Sciences since 2015.
Students have noted that lecturers of programmes such as the Master in Translation and Terminology Studies have risen to the occasion, as have those delivering study-units offered by the Faculty of Economics, Management & Accountancy, namely Quantitative Analysis for Business 2 (EMA1009), Introduction to Insurance and Risk Management (INS1000), and Introductory Macro-Economics (ECN1021). Videos and notes are made available for download through the University鈥檚 webmail or VLE, with the respective lecturers explaining concepts and swiftly answering any questions sent by email. Access to lectures is made available to students both in real-time or as pre-recorded videos.
A number of students have also shared their feedback with regard to 'the outstanding efforts underpinning the immediate streamlined shift to virtual teaching' by some of their lecturers. The best examples of good practice provided interactive workflow and training, and offered one-to-one consultation for individual guidance. They prioritised learning efficiency through shorter, more frequent real-time webinar sessions, set manageable tasks and provided detailed correction and feedback.
Are you experiencing similar examples of good practice in distance learning? Do get in touch with us on qac@um.edu.mt.
